The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-27

minutest errors. his case being 50 perplexing to
the moralist: but we have done with them now
the roll is closed, the reader has the worst of our
poor hero. and leave him TO judge for himself
whether be or John has been the less deserv-
ing. Henceforth we have to follow the spectacle
of man who was mere whiptop for calamity;
on whose unmerited misadventures not even the
humorist can look without pity, and not even
the philosopher without alarm.
That same night the clerk entered upon a
bout of drunkenness consistent as to surprise
even his intimate acduaintances. He WAS
speedily elected from the boarding house: de-
posted his portmanteau with perfect stranger,
who did not even catch his name: wandered he
knew not where; and was at last hove-to, all
standing. in hospital at Sacramento There,
under the impenetrable alias OF the number OF
his bed. the crapulous being lay for some more
days unconscious of all things, aud of one thing
in particular, that the police after him.
Two months had come and gone before the con-
va1escent in the Sacramento hospital was identi-
fed with Kirkman, the abscondine San Fran
cisco clerk; even then. there must elapse nearly
fortnight more till the perfect stranger could
be hunted up, the portmanteau recovered, and
Johns letter carried length to its destination,
the seal still unbroken. the Enclosure still in
tact.
Meanwhile, John had gone upon his HOLIDAYS
without word which was irregular; and there
had disappeared with him a certain sum of
money, which was out Of all bounds of palia-
tion But he was known to be careless and be-
lieved to be honest; the manager, besides, had O
regard for him; and little was said, although
something doubt thought. until the fort
night was nnally at an emu, ana the time naQ
come for John to reappear. Then, indeed, the
affair began to look black; and when inquiries
were made. and the penniless clerk found
to have amassed thousands OF dollars, and kept
them secretly in rival establishment. the
stoutest of his friends abandoned him, the books
were overhauled for traces of ancient and artful
fraud and, though none were found, there still
prevailed a general impression of loss. The tel
egraph set in motion; and the correspondent
of the bank in Edin burgh, for which place it
was understood that John had armed himself
with extensive credits, was warned to commu-
nicate with the police.
Now, this correspondent was q friend of Mr..
Ncholsons; he well acquainted with the
tale of Johns calamtous disappearance from
Edin burg: and, putting one thing with another,
hasted with the first word of this scandal. not to
the police, but to his friend. The old gentle
John place had been TAKEN the memory OF his
faults had already fallen to be of those old
aches. which awaken indeed upon occasion, but
which we can always vanqulsh by effort of
the will; and to have the long lost resuscitated
in fresh disgrace doubly bitter.
.MaeEwen," said the old man, ''this must be
hushed up, if possible. If give you cEeque
for this sum. about which they certain,
could you take it on yourself to let the matter
rest!"
81 will" said MacEwen. ~ will take the risk
of itn
''You understand" resumed Mr.. Nicholson,
speaking precisely. but with ashen lips Il do
this for my family, not for that unhappy young
man. If it should turn out that these suspicious
are correct and he has EN- bezzled large sums. he
must lie on his bed as he has made it," And then
looking mp at MaCEwen with nod and one Of
MacEwen, perceivine the case to be too grave
for consolation. TOOK himself off, and blessed
God on his way home that he childlesa.s
ITO BE CONTINUED NEXT sunday